Half Elf Names: Origins, Legends, and Name Customs

Who Are The Half-Elves?

The Half-Elves are the resulting children of Humans and Elves. Although there are no natural laws that prohibit this bond, many of their kin will oppose this idea. The Half-Elves belong to the path of neither Humans nor Elf. They stand center between the two opposing races and are left to decide their fate—to be Human or Elf.

The concept of the Half-Elf race exists in different books and game stories. The most iconic is the Half-Elf representation in The Lord of the Rings. From J.R.R. Tolkien’s perspective, Half-Elves are the result of the union of an Edain (Men) and Eldarin (Elven). They are called in the Sindarin tongue Peredhil, or simply “Half-Elven”. Union between Men and Elves is considered forbidden love. Men and Elves were simply not created to love each other. Although there are few Half-Elf names mentioned in the entire Middle-Earth who disobeyed this forbidden rule. They played an important role in saving Middle-Earth and maintaining its peace, harmony, and beauty. Half-Elves in Tolkien’s mythology have a golden choice to be an immortal Elf or a mortal Man, without diminishing their original Half-Elf bloodline.

Known Half-Elf Names in Tolkien’s Mythology:

Eärendil

Also known as the “Half-Elf Mariner”, Eärendil was the only son of the Elf princess Idril, and a Human warrior Tuor. Tuor, like his father, was considered as “Elf-friend”, and was closely loved by Turgon, Idril’s father. Turgon allowed Tuor to wed his daughter Idril, which eventually led to the birth of  Eärendil. 

Eärendil was the first mortal to reach the shores of Valinor, the Land of the Valar (gods). He sought the Valar and went to their court to plead with them for aid in their fight against the Dark Lord of Middle-Earth. The Valar were moved by his words and accepted his request. Manwe, the leader of the Valar, granted Eärendil and his wife Elwing the golden choice to be either Man or Elf. Elwing chose to remain as an elf and Eärendil chose the same for the sake of his wife. This gift of choice is passed on to all Half-Elf descendants coming from Eärendil and Elwing.

Elros

Elros is one of the few Half-Elf named in the story of Middle-Earth. He is the son of Eärendil and Elwing, and the twin brother of Elrond. Both Elros and Elrond were granted the gift of choice to be mortal or immortal. Elros, being fond of the company of Men, chose to become a mortal Man. Although his Elven lineage remained in him, giving him still a huge lifespan compared with a common Man. The Valar prepared an island situated in between Valinor and Middle-Earth to recognize all the good deeds of Men who participated in the great war against the Dark Lord. Elros and his followers, together with the remaining survivors from the House of Hador lived on this island and named it Numenor.

It is from Elros where the great men of Numenor came, which will eventually become the great people who will found Gondor and Arnor in Middle-Earth in the Third Age.

Elrond

Elrond is a twin Half-Elven brother to Elros. Unlike his brother, Elrond chose the life of an immortal Elf and remained in Middle-Earth for centuries, guarding and protecting it against any form of evil that will attempt to return. He dwell and founded in the lands of Rivendell, a small haven for the Elves located at the northern center below the Misty Mountains. Elrond was an iconic figure, especially during the Third Age of Middle-Earth. He and his forces participated in the War of The Ring and witnessed the defeat of Sauron in Isildur’s hand.

Elrond also played an important role in helping the dwarves of Erebor decipher the moon writing written from their map to Lonely Mountain. Elrond was also responsible for reforging the blade of Elendil, Narsil.

Half-Elves in Games

Dungeons & Dragons (DnD) and Pathfinder are two prominent tabletop games with sources of ideas about Half-Elves. In DnD, a Half-Elf’s life is a bit complex. They possess both the qualities of their Elf and Human parents. They inherited the inventive nature of Men and the nature-loving attitude of the Elves. Men and Elves often differ in perspective and ideologies, but a Half-Elf stand in between and walks in either philosophy. Because of this, Half-Elves are often discriminated—against by both Men and Elves. Elves see them as nothing but Humans, while Humans see them as Elves.

Famous Half-Elf Names in DnD

Tanis Half-Elven

Tanthalas Half-Elven, also known as Tanis Half-Elven, was the main protagonist from the original series Dragonlance. Dragonlance was adopted and published by Wizards of the Coast, the company behind Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons.

Tanis was the son of a Qualinesti Elf, Elansa Sungold, and a human outlaw named Brand. The name Tanthalas means “ever-strong” in the human language, and was given to him by his mother Elansa.

Arderiel

Introduced in the Forgotten Realms: Unlimited Adventures, Arderiel is described as a polite Half-Elf and a talented Fighter-Mage. Arderiel is a Non-Playable Character (NPC) from the game, with various interactions with the players as they play the Forgotten Realms campaign.

Aribeth de Tylmarande

The famous Half-Elf Paladin of Tyr, Lady Aribeth de Tylmarande is one of the prominent Half-Elf characters introduced in the Neverwinter Nights saga, a DnD-based video game released in 2002. Aribeth is one of the many NPCs encountered by players in Neverwinter Nights. She is tasked with investigating the Wailing Death that plagued Neverwinter. She acts as a quest-giver to players during the early stages of the main campaign.

Later in the game, Aribeth will become an antagonist, joining the Blackguard in revenge for the execution of Fenthick, her lover. During the player’s second encounter with Aribeth, the player has a chance to redeem Aribeth back as an ally NPC. Otherwise, she can be killed or imprisoned for the rest of the game.

Shadowheart

A Half-Elf Cleric introduced in Baldur’s Gate III, Shadowheart is one of the available companions that can assist the players throughout the game. Shadowheart can be obtained by freeing her from a pod during the Prologue part of the main questline of Baldur’s Gate III.